Is he ever leaving for Africa?

Soundtrack: Free bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Okay, so while you impatiens readers wait for the bloody wanker to move on!
Meanwhile I give you a little rundown on what has went on for the last period of time, and how the situation is? I bet you don’t want me to quit of by now, or do you?
Things are as good as they can be, maybe too good here in PDR ;oP
First I have a little story to tell about the guy behind my success in Spain. The Aussie who started all this. Introducing a Danish bloke to the people of Spain, is quit a chance to take. But he took it and things went good, luckily for him…
As you might remember, those who have listened to the famous radio interview from Palma del Rio. I promised Brad, living in Murcia (long story), that I would get serious and arrive at his place ASAP. This time I kept my promise. Brad was and still is a very serious and active member of Club VFR Spain.
I finally met up with him one late and extremely hot Thursday evening. To be more accurate the 23 of July in the center of Murcia, after a long and hard day riding in the burning heat. First I had some problems locating for him where I was, but after a little help from a willing girl speaking over the phone with Brad, we finally got things sorted out.
I think I can say for both Brad and me, that it was a very funny feeling finally meeting after half a year of email correspondence. Brad had got in contact with me after he stumbled over my site, while I was still back home preparing my adventures.
For me, Brad was one tall Mother F….. I was breaking my neck when I spoke to him. But he was great from the moment we met.
I spend nine days at his place, also getting to know his flatmate Jorge, his friend Yolanda and her sister Maria José too. We went rock climbing,  sailing on the Mar Menor, dining local food, enjoying concerts Cartagena, and not to forget the nudist beach. Most of all, I had time to relax while staying there, which I was in need of. Sometimes you just need to get your energy back again, and be ready for the next episode of your adventures, which is what I’m getting right now, or trying to, before hell breaks loose.
Regarding the day we went sailing on Mar Menor. I have a little thing to admit. Brad, Yolanda and me went with Nicolas, also member of Club VFR Spain. He is the lucky owner of a sailing boat at Mar Menor . It was a sunny day, like most of them here in Spain. We headed out on the big inner lake, and everything was just fine. After 30 minutes or so. Nicolas stopped the engine of the boat, and we could go for a swim in the salty water. No problems, this is so cool I thought.  I jumped in with Yolanda, and swam around as an elite swimmer for 30 seconds. Everything was good, until I turned my head to look after the boat behind me. I got chocked, the boat had drifted what looked like a 100 meters from where we jumped in. Okay, I better get back again to safe ground on the deck of the boat. This was the first thing that strucked my mind. I started to swim back to the boat, I could see that I got closer after a short while, but due to my 60 in a day habit of cigarettes, I had to get a rest during this hard work. I was gasping and wheezing like a locomotive. And what happens? Of cause the boat drifts away from me again! I must admit that panic strikes you a little. Yolanda saw my face and was by my side, asking me if I needed help? One thing was for sure, it was impossible for me to sink due to the high concentration of salt in the water from the Mediterranean sea, but I was very tired.  The feeling that you are getting far away from the  boat was a nasty experience. Nicolas and Brad quickly fired up the Yamaha outboard engine and turned around to pick up the OL elite swimmer of Denmark ;oP I can’t say how glad I was to be in contact with glass fiber again, it was a big relief.
We later enjoyed the sunset and cold beers, which is more in my league of sports. All in all a perfect day, though I had my near death experience. But I bet the crew had a great laugh of my capabilities of swimming, or should we say lack of?
I had arranged before arriving to Murcia that my parents and one of the sponsor companies back in Denmark could send me the final things. Plus picking up the Avon Distanzia tyres I send down to Brad before my departure back home. And not to mention number 2 ordered clutch kit ordered from UK. (the first one got lost in Picos de Europa). Fifty percent of the items had arrived. Missing was the clutch kit and the touring windscreen!
I never recovered the clutch kit, and I had ordered it without any possibilities of tracking (normal postage). I guess I relied to much on the national post system in Spain. So if one of you need a new clutch  replacement kit for your RC36-2. Go to the local post office in Murcia. I bet they have one in stock. 64.40 GPB lost again, arrrrgggg. I later order number 3 kit to be send insured to Palma del Rio by UPS (has arrived with success). This time David Silver agreed to cover the postage, I bet I’m their number one customer when it comes to clutch kits. I plan to replace this kit together with a new chain and sprockets in Africa, when the clutch of the bike finally dies. The other item that was missing, the windscreen, was not due to the mail system of Spain. It was because the company back home forgot to ship it. The windscreen is now in house, and installed on Ussel Mammut.
Back to Murcia – I also had the opportunity to test my capabilities of rock climbing, which was of more success than the swim. Jorge, Brad and me spend one evening in the mountains surrounding Murcia climbing a wall with great view and pleasure. I must admit it is hard work, and one get the adrenalin pumping once up there. But I had great fun doing it, it is a fantastic sport, like drinking beers.
On the final morning when I left Murcia, Brad and I headed for Tabernas to the Almeria circuit. The area sourrounding Tabernas is known for the place were they filmed hundreds of western movies through times, including my favorite classic’s with Clint Eastwood. Brad had arranged with his friend Dr. Nipple from Club VFR Spain, that they were going racing that Saturday. I had my race on the highway trying to catch up with Brad. I beat the old speed record of 167 km/h, with a new one, that stated 197 km/h on the GPS. Fully loaded with the extra tyres, ready to go overland in the African continent.
Arriving at the Almeria circuit in Tabernas, I had the opportunity to get close to the race on the track and take some photos. I also had the sad experience of looking at an MV Augusta getting into the asphalt and the pilot breaking his leg.
Later that day I said goodbye to Dr. Nipple and Brad and headed of for Roquetas de Mar, I was  going to visit Beatriz, Maria Luisa, José (Batman) and the rest of her family from PDR. We had a great day and evening, good food and whiskey too. Including a rather sad attempt sleeping on the beach, but gave up due to mosquitoes. We made our way back to the apartment to snore with the others.
Next morning Sunday 2nd of August, we waked up on the floor, the mattress had leaked out the air during the night, or someone had sabotaged it, (Batman)? I said farewell to the family. They were heading back to Palma del Rio, and I was going to visit another city and great place on my list of places to check off. I was heading for Granada to visit the the Islamic gardens and old buildings of Alhambra, a place I must recommend you to visit if you are near. I stayed there for some five hours walking around, and must admit that it is the perfect place to take your girlfriend or lover. A wonder of the world!
When leaving the area I had to argue with the car-park attendant. My parking ticket was due because of time. One hour had gone since I paid the parking fee at the machine. He quickly accepted my story when I told him I had to get into all the gear to get on the bike. I didn’t tell him it was because I took my time to study my maps,  have a cigarette or two before leaving.
Being so close to Sierra Nevada made me feel, I had no excuse for not going up in the mountains. Some cold air could do me good, and I had another two days before I had to arrive in PDR.
In Sierra Nevada, I met two crazy Germans working for a car manufacture company, that they wouldn’t tell me the name of. They were testing a car that was going in production, having a face lift or whatever. All in all it was very secret, they did a lot not to show the vehicle to the public, by covering it in a special made blanket when it was parked. Every time I tried to guess the brand of the car, like saying “Is it a Porche or a new VW Toureg”, they would laugh at me. And telling me in very bad English, “Das ist not bat, not bat alz alls…”. I never guessed were they were from? More of these cars showed up as I descended down from Sierra Nevada. They were racing with furious speeds on the curly roads, all of them painted black.
That evening I camped near Granada with the great view of the city lights during the evening, spending time talking with a guy taking his dogs for a walk.
Next day I just wanted to go riding some good roads, not visiting any places by the means of playing a tourist. I remembered it as an another incredible hot day. I found a great spot to overnight when I came by a big field covered with solar panels. It was the property of the Magtel Group, a solar energy corporation in Spain. Right in the middle of the olive fields was this huge park with several hundreds of big solar panels, sucking the last energy out of the setting evening sun. And what was even better, there was a building nearby with all the hardware inside, to control the panels. This was perfect, I needed shadow so I could settle down for the evening and night. Later several guards and maintenance personnel came by, when I was cooking my evening meal, consisting of pasta and cheese. The first guys was the two José’s, they were very curious of  where I was heading? No problems at all. Later in the night things were more dramatic. Two cars came down the gravel road, apparently, these guys was the night shift, taking over from the two José’s. They had big trouble about their dogs barking, because of me. After 20 minutes of negotiating I had the accept from them to stay over night. I went to sleep, waking up when the Guardia Civil came by, but they didn’t mind to stop. Next day I was heading for PDR, 35 kilometres away…

Ohhh, a little sunshine story from the Danish embassy in Alger
Got a reply from a danish guy at the embassy a few weeks ago, after I wrote to them, that I was heading for Cape Town, Africa. I will share it with you. Here is what they said:
” If you go to Mauritania, Africa? You will get your head cut of! ” Not a positive feedback. They might just say: “You better stay home and barricade your door!” No fucking way, I’m going…
I later called a Dutch guy having contacts in Dakar. He said things are fine, just don’t go in the “no go zones”. I have also been in contact with people on the HUBB. A British guy offered me contacts/ accomodation in both Daker and Lagos. And I now have a place to stay in Ceuta when arriving with the ferry. People are just so friendly and amazing.
Regarding the feedback from the Danish embassy and the Dutch guy.  I guess I just stay out of those ”no go zones”, which are in the areas east towards Algeria. In other words I better stick close to the coast, trying not to get to wet. Of cause you have to take things with a grain of salt. Ask the locals is the best advice, and just hope the guy you speak with is one of the good guys. I will give you the true story of the situations down there, when I know about them myself. People are always exaggerating!
All this is because of the terrorist organisation Al Qaeda. To minimize the damage, I have removed my Danish flags on the bike and my alu boxes. Remember the scandale in Denmark in 2005? I don’t think I have to remind any of you of it!